In this episode, host Gok Ratnarajan is joined by Dr. Ana Miguel, Dr. Karl Mercieca, and Dr. Jose Belda to explore whether patients truly experience greater happiness following glaucoma surgery. Through anonymized case studies and real-world examples, the panel delves into how an interventional glaucoma approach can impact patient quality of life. Together, they reflect on patient expectations and outcomes, sharing personal experiences to provide a balanced and insightful discussion on the patient perspective in glaucoma care.
The Interventional Glaucoma Podcast
Episode 15: Are Patients Really Happier After Glaucoma Surgery?
Key Takeaways
- Surgical success ≠ patient satisfaction — communication is crucial and success lies in managing expectations.
- Over the last decade MIGS has transformed glaucoma care- safer, earlier interventions are improving outcomes and increasing surgeon confidence.
- Quality of life and mental well-being are key to post-surgical success. MIGS in mild-to-moderate cases allows for more patient-centered decisions, often prioritizing convenience and comfort.
- Personalized care based on patient profile and trust leads to better outcomes. It is essential to tailor communication to individual patients and understand their priorities.
- Look out for red flags: patients with unrealistic demands, distrust, or poor engagement. These can undermine treatment success.
- Today’s glaucoma specialists must go beyond surgical skill. They are educators, partners, and often must act as psychologists. Building long-term relationships and addressing the emotional landscape of glaucoma is now a core part of care.
Guests
Mr Gok Ratnarajan
Mr Gok Ratnarajan is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon specialising in Cataract, Glaucoma and Anterior Segment Reconstructive Surgery.
He is Director of Glaucoma Services at the prestigious Queen Victoria Hospital.
Mr Ratnarajan is fellowship trained in glaucoma, complex cataract as well as anterior segment reconstructive surgery. He gained this experience during his 3 specialist surgical fellowships at The Oxford Eye Hospital, The Western Eye Hospital in London and the world renowned fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada.
Dr Ana Miguel
Dr Ana Miguel is the 1st surgeon in Normandy and Brittany to implant XEN (micro-invasive glaucoma surgery, MIGS), since 2018 and did a fellowship with Ike Ahmed in Toronto (glaucoma and advanced anterior segment surgery) in 2022-21.
She has created her clinical research team, with training in Bonnes Pratiques Cliniques (Good Clinical Practice), at the moment is the principal investigator of a randomized clinical trial in glaucoma, and the largest recruiter in France for this trial.
First author of 23 publications in leading scientific journals, reviewer and editor of several scientific journals.
Dr Miguel won the Peter Watson Medal given by the European Board of Ophthalmology and European Glaucoma Society in 2024.
Dr Karl Mercieca
Dr Karl Mercieca is an Associate Professor, Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist and Director of Glaucoma Services at the University Hospital Eye Clinic in Bonn, Germany.
Dr Mercieca has over 90 peer-reviewed publications to date and his research interests include ocular drug delivery devices, less-invasive glaucoma surgery and complex surgical glaucoma.
He has also been the Primary Investigator for many large multi-centre trials on novel glaucoma surgery devices and drug delivery systems. He has also received several academic prizes throughout his career, including the Peter Watson Medal for highest score in the FEBOS-GL glaucoma sub-speciality exam and best free paper/poster presentation by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Dr Mercieca is passionate about post-graduate medical education and improving ophthalmology and glaucoma teaching across Europe with particular interests in novel ways of learning such as serious games and interactive visual learning.
Dr Jose Belda
Medical Surgeon Ophthalmologist in Visionker, Ophthalmologist in Clínica Oftálica, Chief of Service in Torrevieja Health Department, Member of the ophthalmology team at Clínica Baviera and head of the Ophthalmology Service at the University Hospital of Torrevieja.
With more than 20 years of intense professional career, Dr. José Isidro Belda Sanchís has managed to become a reference expert in the approach and treatment of Glaucoma, standing out for his great work in the different clinical and hospital centers where he has worked.
His extensive training in ophthalmology includes stays in centers of international prestige such as the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the Moorfields Eye Hospital, and the Hospital for the Prevention of Blindness.
Additional Resources
Follow Mister Gok Ratnarajan on Social:
Professor Gok Ratnarajan | LinkedIn
Follow Doctor Ana Miguel on Social:
Doctor Ana Miguel | LinkedIn
Follow Doctor Karl Mercieca on Social:
Dr Karl Mercieca | LinkedIn
Follow Doctor Jose Belda on Social:
Dr Jose Belda | LinkedIn
Episode 16: Integrating Glaucoma Surgery into Your Phaco Routine
In this episode, Prof. Verena Prokosch and Ms. Nishani Amerasinghe explore integrating MIGS with cataract surgery, highlighting how laser trabecular procedures enhance outcomes when combined with phacoemulsification.
Episode 14: Managing Expectations: What really matters to patients
In this episode, Professor Ike Ahmed welcomes Dr. Ticiana de Francesco, Dr. Nathan Radcliffe, and Dr. Mark Gallardo to discuss goal setting in interventional glaucoma care.
Episode 13: ELIOS – What I learned from my first 100 cases (Part 2)
In this second episode of a special two-part series on the Interventional Glaucoma Podcast, host Gok Ratnarajan is joined by Anselm Juenemann, Dan Lindfield, Jose Belda, and Nils Loewen to